India

Kerala High Court Orders Chargesheets Filed Against Vellappally Natesan in Microfinance Cases Within Two Weeks

By PTI

The Kerala High Court on Friday directed the investigating officer to file chargesheets within two weeks against SNDP Yogam general secretary Vellappally Natesan and other accused in microfinance cases. Justice A Badharudeen issued the interim order, stating that the investigating agency may file chargesheets without obtaining government prosecution sanction. The delay had been caused by a dispute over the need for prosecution sanction. The court noted that the investigation team had prepared chargesheets in several cases and was awaiting sanction before filing them. Earlier, the court had asked the Secretary of the Backward Classes Development Department and the competent authority to consider granting prosecution sanction. The BCDD replied that government sanction was not required to prosecute the accused in these cases. The case was brought before the High Court by M S Anil of Cherthala, who claimed that the investigation into Natesan was proceeding slowly and that under the Prevention of Corruption Act sanction was required because the accused had received financial assistance from the Centre or the state government. The investigation is supervised by the High Court. The allegation is that funds allotted by the government under a microfinance scheme by the Kerala State Backward Classes Development Corporation for the welfare of backward communities through Sree Narayana Dharma Paripalana Yogam units were misappropriated by submitting false utilisation certificates in the names of fictitious self‑help groups between 2003 and 2014. It is alleged that ₹15.85 crore disbursed to the SNDP Yogam under a microfinance scheme was misappropriated. SNDP Yogam is a social organisation founded on the principles of social reformer Sree Narayana Guru and was established to promote the social, educational and economic advancement of the Ezhava community and other disadvantaged sections.